Visit a detainee at the Alexander Maconochie Centre
Learn when you can visit someone detained at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, how to book and what to do before you arrive.
We encourage family and friends to visit detainees who are at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).
Regular visits help to maintain relationships and can make it easier for detainees to adjust to life in the community when they are released.
Family and friends can visit detainees at set times, Wednesday to Sunday. There is a limit of 3 adult visitors and a reasonable number of children per visit.
Who can visit
To visit someone at the AMC you must be on that person’s visitor list. Detainees can choose up to 10 family members or friends to be on their visitor list at a time.
People under the age of 18 must visit with a guardian or parent.
Detainees have the right to refuse your visit if they want to.
Detainees can also request a visit with people on their approved visitor list. We will contact you if you are requested for a visit.
Steps to visit
Other ways to connect
If you are unable to visit a detainee at the AMC, you may be able to keep in contact with them in other ways.
Read about how to connect with a detainee at the AMC.
Legal and other accredited visitors
Legal and other accredited visitors can enter the AMC or visit a detainee on any day of the week.
Legal visits follow the same rules as other visitors.
You are permitted to bring legal documentation about the detainee’s case to the visit, which is conducted in a designated private room. Detainees’ legal representatives may request a non-contact or non-private visit.
Legal visitors must:
- show identification that identifies you as a registered legal practitioner at each visit
- be involved in the legal representation of the detainee you are visiting.
To make a booking to visit on a non-visit day (Mondays and Tuesdays), email avlamcbookings@act.gov.au You must email at least one business day ahead of your visit.
Visiting in a personal capacity
If you enter a correctional centre or visit a detainee in a professional capacity, you are not allowed to enter a correctional centre or visit a detainee in a personal capacity unless you have an exemption.
Exemptions are at the discretion of the Assistant Commissioner (or delegate). To ask for an exemption write to: Assistant Commissioner, Custodial Operations, Alexander Maconochie Centre, Locked Bag 7775, Canberra BC ACT 2610